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Are SilverStone fans quiet? Case fans list 18 to 43.5 dBA at top speed

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· 14 min read

SilverStone fans quiet

Best 140mm figure: the FQ141, 20.7 dBA at 1000 RPM. At 120mm, the Air Penetrator 120i and the 15 mm FN124 share the low of 18 dBA. Across the case fan range, top-speed figures run from 18 to 43.5 dBA on SilverStone's spec pages.

For air coolers, the Krypton KR03 lists 23 dBA, the AR12 RGB 29 and the Argon V140 ARGB 30.8. No distance or standard is given, so the numbers compare only with each other.

On this page
  1. How we chose
  2. Our picks
  3. How to choose
  4. Comparison
  5. FAQs
  6. Bottom line
  7. Review history

A quick look at the quietest SilverStone fans

Twenty point seven dBA at 1000 RPM: that is the FQ141 flat out, the lowest full speed figure on any SilverStone 140mm fan. At 120mm, the Air Penetrator 120i and the 15 mm FN124 share a low of 18 dBA. Across the case fan range, top-speed figures run from 18 to 43.5 dBA on SilverStone's product pages.

Most of those pages print noise as a span. It runs from the slowest speed to the fastest, and the ranking here uses the top of each span, because that end belongs to a stated speed, while the bottom is quoted wherever it sits above zero.

Air coolers get a fan figure too, tower and low profile alike, and they sit in sections of their own away from the bare fans. SilverStone against Noctua, ARCTIC and other brands is covered in the 120mm fan rankings and the wider look at quiet PC case fans.

How we chose these SilverStone fans and coolers

On November 8, 2026, SilverStone's fan and cooler category listings were pulled, each linked product page saved, and every "Noise Level" row copied with its speed, airflow and pressure. Fans were sorted by frame size and thickness, then ranked on the high end of each span, the end tied to a stated top speed; zero lower ends do not count. Cooler figures are ranked apart from bare fans, and low profile coolers apart from towers.

A pick also needed a new amazon.com listing under the SilverStone brand that read plain in stock, not limited stock, on November 8, with the exact SilverStone model number in its title. Amazon served only to confirm stock, since SilverStone publishes no prices. Every figure here is SilverStone's, with no distance or standard named. Fans already in a case can be slowed with the steps in how to make PC fans quieter.

QuietSpecs' picks of the quietest SilverStone fans

Prices as of Nov 12. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.

Lowest full speed figure on a SilverStone 140mm fan

SilverStone FQ141 140mm Quiet PWM Fan

SilverStone FQ141 140mm Quiet PWM Fan
  • Noise: 14.7 to 20.7 dBA at 500 to 1000 RPM; 15.1 dBA at 7V
  • Price: $25.99 at Amazon, checked Nov 12
  • Best for: A quiet 140mm intake or exhaust in a case with an open front
  • Skip it if: It must push through a radiator or a fine dust screen

Across a 500 to 1000 RPM PWM range the FQ141 is rated "14.7 ~ 20.7dBA", plus 15.1 dBA at 7V, and that 20.7 is the lowest top-speed number on any SilverStone 140mm fan page.

It moves up to 62.0 CFM at 1.21 mmH2O, ships with a cable that holds it at 630 RPM, and comes with rubber pads for its screw holes.

Check price at Amazon

Best 140mm fan that can stop

SilverStone Vista 140 PWM Fan (VS140B)

SilverStone Vista 140 PWM Fan (VS140B)
  • Noise: 0 to 30.8 dBA at 0 to 1,600 RPM
  • Price: $19.76 at Amazon, checked Nov 12
  • Best for: A general case fan that idles off and still moves real air
  • Skip it if: Airflow matters less than the lowest top figure, which belongs to the FQ141

"0~30.8 dBA" beside a 0 to 1,600 RPM range, the zero being the fan standing still under PWM control. Flat out the Vista 140 rates 86 CFM and 2.0 mmH2O, so against the FQ141 it adds 24 CFM and more pressure for 10.1 dBA more.

It runs on a hydrodynamic bearing, draws 1.68W, and the ARGB version prints identical numbers.

Check price at Amazon

Widest dBA range of the Air Penetrators

SilverStone Air Penetrator 140i ARGB

SilverStone Air Penetrator 140i ARGB
  • Noise: 14.9 to 41.3 dBA at 500 to 2000 RPM
  • Price: $28.99 at Amazon, checked Nov 12
  • Best for: A front intake pushing through a restrictive panel at moderate speed
  • Skip it if: The fans will spend long stretches near full speed

From "14.9 ~ 41.3dBA" over 500 to 2000 RPM, the Air Penetrator 140i ARGB spans more than any other in its family. A round grille twists the outgoing air into a focused column that SilverStone says carries 2.2 meters, at 73.48 CFM and 2.72 mmH2O.

Its 41.3 at full speed is the highest figure on any 25 mm SilverStone 140mm fan, so it belongs on a curve that seldom reaches the top.

Check price at Amazon

Slim SilverStone fan for cramped builds

SilverStone Air Slimmer 140 Slim Fan (AS140B)

SilverStone Air Slimmer 140 Slim Fan (AS140B)
  • Noise: 0 to 33 dBA at 0 to 1,700 RPM
  • Price: $21.59 at Amazon, checked Nov 12
  • Best for: Compact builds and low coolers where depth is short
  • Skip it if: A standard 25 mm fan fits, where the Vista 140 lists less

At 15.5 mm thick, the Air Slimmer 140 lists "0 ~ 33 dBA" across 0 to 1,700 RPM, with 82 CFM and 2 mmH2O flat out.

Its top figure sits 2.2 dBA above the 25 mm Vista 140, a small price for 9.5 mm less depth. An all-copper fluid dynamic bearing and daisy-chain PWM leads come with it.

Check price at Amazon

Best for radiators at 120mm

SilverStone Shark Force 120 PWM Fan (SF120B)

SilverStone Shark Force 120 PWM Fan (SF120B)
  • Noise: 0 to 41.2 dBA at 0 to 2500 RPM
  • Price: $28.99 at Amazon, checked Nov 12
  • Best for: A 120mm radiator or a dense heatsink on a temperature-based curve
  • Skip it if: The fan sits in open air, where the Vista 120 lists 30.6 dBA

No SilverStone 120mm case fan outside the industrial line pushes harder: 100 CFM and 4.66 mmH2O at 2500 RPM, against "0 ~ 41.2 dBA" across the range. The blades carry a ridged pattern modeled on shark skin.

SilverStone recommends running it by temperature rather than the board's DC preset, because of how the preset sounds at standby.

Check price at Amazon

Quiet 80mm exhaust for small cases

SilverStone FN80 80mm Fan (FN80B)

SilverStone FN80 80mm Fan (FN80B)
  • Noise: 22.9 dBA at 2000 RPM
  • Price: $9.99 at Amazon, checked Nov 12
  • Best for: Replacing a whiny stock 80mm exhaust in a compact or media PC
  • Skip it if: The board only throttles 4-pin PWM fans

The lowest top-speed number on any SilverStone 80mm fan, "22.9 dBA" at a fixed 2000 RPM, is 0.1 dBA under the FN81.

The FN80 moves 27.81 CFM at 1.86 mmH2O and is pitched as an exhaust for HTPC and small form factor cases: a 3-pin fan on a hydraulic bearing, drawing 1.8W.

Check price at Amazon

Lowest top figure on a SilverStone 120mm tower cooler

SilverStone Argon AR12 RGB CPU Cooler

SilverStone Argon AR12 RGB CPU Cooler
  • Noise: 9 to 29 dBA at 700 to 2200 RPM (fan)
  • Price: $33.95 at Amazon, checked Nov 12
  • Best for: An AM5 or older Intel build that wants a quiet single tower
  • Skip it if: The CPU is a current Intel LGA1700 or LGA1851 part

"9 ~ 29 dBA" for its 120mm fan across 700 to 2200 RPM, and no SilverStone tower with a 120mm fan prints a lower top number. The Argon AR12 RGB stands 154 mm tall with four 6 mm heat pipes touching the CPU directly.

Intel support ends at LGA2066 and LGA1200; AMD runs up to AM5.

Check price at Amazon

SilverStone 140mm single tower

SilverStone Argon V140 ARGB CPU Cooler

SilverStone Argon V140 ARGB CPU Cooler
  • Noise: 12.8 to 30.8 dBA at 400 to 1,750 RPM (fan)
  • Price: $48.06 at Amazon, checked Nov 12
  • Best for: A current Intel or AMD build with room for a 160 mm tower
  • Skip it if: The case limits cooler height to 155 mm or less

Current sockets, LGA1700, LGA1851 and AM5, and a 140mm fan listed at "12.8 ~ 30.8 dBA" over 400 to 1,750 RPM, with 93 CFM and 2.24 mmH2O. Offset fins keep the Argon V140 ARGB clear of tall memory.

At 160 mm tall and 820 g it is bigger than the AR12 RGB, and its top figure is 1.8 dBA higher.

Check price at Amazon

Lowest single figure on a SilverStone tower cooler

SilverStone Krypton KR03 CPU Cooler

SilverStone Krypton KR03 CPU Cooler
  • Noise: 23 dBA at 2000 RPM (fan)
  • Price: $21.99 at Amazon, checked Nov 12
  • Best for: A 65W AMD build that wants a cheap, quiet upgrade over a stock cooler
  • Skip it if: The CPU runs well above 65W

A 92mm blue LED fan at a fixed 2000 RPM, listed at "23 dBA": lower than the top figure on any SilverStone 120mm or 140mm tower.

The Krypton KR03 is small, 125 mm tall with two 6 mm heat pipes, and SilverStone notes that CPUs above 65W need a case with efficient airflow. With a 3-pin fan, 23 dBA is simply the speed it was built to run at.

Check price at Amazon

Flattest SilverStone cooler for AM5

SilverStone Nitrogon NT07-AM5 Low Profile CPU Cooler

SilverStone Nitrogon NT07-AM5 Low Profile CPU Cooler
  • Noise: 18 to 34.7 dBA at 1500 to 3600 RPM (fan)
  • Price: $29.99 at Amazon, checked Nov 12
  • Best for: A slim AMD case where the cooler gets less than 25 mm of clearance
  • Skip it if: 40 mm or more of clearance is free and cooling headroom counts

22 mm tall in total, tied with the Intel NT07-1700 for the lowest SilverStone cooler.

The Nitrogon NT07-AM5 lists "18~34.7 dBA" for its 10 mm thick 80mm fan across 1500 to 3600 RPM, so even its low figure belongs to a fan turning at 1500 RPM.

It is rated for 65W CPUs on AM5 and AM4 and uses the board's standard AMD backplate.

Check price at Amazon

How to choose

How loud are SilverStone fans?

From 18 to 43.5 dBA at full speed, for the case fans. Every product page has a row labeled "Noise Level", just under the speed, airflow and static pressure rows.

It comes in three formats. Fixed-speed fans print one figure, such as "18dBA" beside "1350 RPM" on the Air Penetrator 120i. PWM fans print a span, such as "14.7 ~ 20.7dBA" beside "500 ~ 1000rpm" on the FQ141. A few older 180mm fans print one figure per speed setting.

No page states the microphone distance or the test method behind a figure. One SilverStone number therefore compares fairly with another and only loosely with other brands, which may measure differently. Prices are missing too. A cart box reads "0 USD", and a "Find a dealership" link leads to resellers.

Air Penetrator fans run from 18 to 41.3 dBA at the top

Size and version decide where an Air Penetrator lands. The AP120i and AP140i pages describe an "Integrated air channeling grille" that narrows the outgoing air into a longer stream.

ModelSizeNoise LevelSpeedNotes
AP120i120mm18 dBAFixed 1350 RPM45.8 CFM
AP142-ARGB140mm18.48 to 23.33 dBA500 to 1500 RPM
AP124-ARGB120mm19.25 to 23.54 dBA500 to 1800 RPM
AP181180mm15.9 / 24.75 / 30 dB(A)600 / 900 / 1200 RPM
AP8180mm30 dBA3000 RPM
AP140i140mm30.1 dBAFixed 1500 RPM64.34 CFM
AP120SK ARGB120mm0 to 33.5 dBA0 to 2000 RPM
AP184i ARGB, AP184i PRO180mm0 to 34.5 dBA0 to 1200 RPM
AP183180mm"18 dBA (400rpm) ~ 37dBA (1,500rpm)"400 to 1,500 RPM
AP120i PRO120mm0 to 38.9 dBA0 to 2000 RPM
AP182180mm20, 25, 34 and 40 dBA500, 700, 1200 and 2000 RPM
AP140i ARGB140mm14.9 to 41.3 dBA500 to 2000 RPM

The plain AP120i lists the lowest number, but it runs at one speed on a 3-pin plug. The PWM versions list higher top figures because they also run faster, up to 2000 RPM.

What is the quietest SilverStone 120mm fan?

Two fans tie at 18 dBA, the Air Penetrator 120i and the FN124. The FN124 is a 15 mm slim fan at 1500 RPM, which leaves the AP120i alone among 25 mm fans. Here is the full 120mm range, by top figure within each depth.

ModelDepthNoise LevelSpeedNotes
AP120i25 mm18 dBA1350 RPM
Vista 120F25 mm23.1 dBA1,500 RPM48 CFM
AP124-ARGB, FW123-RGB25 mm19.25 to 23.54 dBA500 to 1800 RPM
Air Blazer 120i Lite25 mm24 dBA1200 RPMThree-pack
FQ12225 mm14.5 to 24.9 dBA800 to 1500 RPM15.9 dBA at 7V
FN121-P25 mm"25.15 dBA(Max)"1200 RPM
FW12225 mm18.4 to 28.1 dBA1000 to 1800 RPM
Air Nexus 120 ARGB25 mm30 dBAUp to 1,500 RPMThree-pack
Vista 120, Vista 120 ARGB25 mm0 to 30.6 dBA0 to 2,000 RPM66 CFM
AP120SK ARGB25 mm0 to 33.5 dBA
Air Blazer 120R, 120RW25 mm7.4 to 35.6 dBA600 to 2200 RPM
AP120i PRO25 mm0 to 38.9 dBA
Shark Force 120, 120 ARGB25 mm0 to 41.2 dBA0 to 2500 RPM100 CFM
FN124Slim, 15 to 15.6 mm18 dBA1500 RPM
FN123Slim23.5 dBA2000 RPM
FW124-ARGBSlim14.7 to 24.6 dBA
Air Slimmer 120Slim0 to 31.7 dBA
Air Frost A120X ARGB28 mm11.6 to 32.4 dBA
Air Frost A120XR ARGB28 mm12.3 to 36.2 dBAReverse blades

Low figures and high speeds rarely meet. Every 25 mm fan listed under 25 dBA tops out at 1800 RPM or below, while the Shark Force 120 reaches 2500.

Which SilverStone 140mm fan is quietest?

The FQ141, at 20.7 dBA and 1000 RPM; every other 140mm model lists more at full speed, though most of them also spin faster.

ModelDepthNoise LevelSpeedNotes
FQ14125 mm14.7 to 20.7 dBA500 to 1000 RPM62.0 CFM
AP142-ARGB, FW142-RGB25 mm18.48 to 23.33 dBA500 to 1500 RPM
Air Penetrator 140i25 mm30.1 dBA1500 RPM
Vista 140, Vista 140 ARGB25 mm0 to 30.8 dBA0 to 1,600 RPM86 CFM
Shark Force 140, 140 ARGB25 mm0 to 38.3 dBA0 to 2,200 RPM120 CFM
Air Penetrator 140i ARGB25 mm14.9 to 41.3 dBA500 to 2000 RPM
Air Slimmer 140, 140 ARGB15.5 mm0 to 33 dBA
FHP14138 mm"13.4~43.5 dBA(Max)"Two speed modes, reaching 1200 and 2000 RPM

The Shark Force 160 fits 140mm holes as well. Its 160mm blades list 0 to 38.1 dBA up to 1600 RPM and move 160 CFM, more than any 140mm SilverStone fan. Other makers' 140mm fans are in the 140mm rankings.

80mm, 92mm and the tiny FTF fans

At 80mm and 92mm the full speed figures run from 22.9 to 34.8 dBA.

ModelSizeNoise LevelSpeed
FN8080mm22.9 dBA2000 RPM
FN8180mm23 dBA2050 RPM
FW8180mm15.3 to 30 dBA
AP8180mm30 dBA3000 RPM
FM8480mm18.1 to 34.8 dBA1500 to 3500 RPM
FQ9192mm14.7 to 24.8 dBA1000 to 2500 RPM
FW9192mm14.1 to 27.7 dBA
FM9392mm9.3 to 29.2 dBA
Air Slimmer 9092mm, 15.2 mm thick11.3 to 32 dBA

Those figures fall close together, so bearing type and speed control may decide more than a dBA or two. The FN80 and FN81 are 3-pin; the FQ and FM series take PWM.

The tiny FTF fans, 40 to 60mm, list 23.9 to 28 dBA at 12V and print three figures each: at 12V, with the speed reduction cable, and at 5V.

ModelSize12VReduction cable5V
FTF 401040mm23.9 dBA19.8 dBA15.6 dBA
FTF 602560mm25.9 dBA20.2 dBA15.5 dBA
FTF 501050mm28 dBA20 dBA16.5 dBA

Industrial FHS and FHL fans sit far above the case fans

The FHS industrial fans list 45.6 to 77.7 dBA, and the newer FHL radiator fans 38.8 and 39.6 dBA.

ModelNoise LevelSpeedNotes
FHL14038.8 dBAUp to 2,500 RPM123.8 CFM, 7.66 mmH2O
FHL12039.6 dBAUp to 3,000 RPM5.2 mmH2O
FHS 120 24V45.6 dBA
FHS 140X50 dBA222.95 CFM
FHS 120X51.8 dBAUp to 4,000 RPM11.66 mmH2O
FHS 80X61.4 dBAUp to 10,000 RPM
FHS 60X61.5 dBAUp to 15,000 RPM
FHS80Z-D77.7 dBATwo fans turning in opposite directions

These are server and workstation parts, and a single figure with no stated speed is common among them, so each is read as the fan flat out. For pressure at home, the Shark Force 120 gives 4.66 mmH2O at 41.2 dBA.

Tower coolers list 23 to 41 dBA for their fans

The Krypton KR03 is lowest, at 23 dBA with a 92mm fan; the older 140mm HE01 is highest.

CoolerFanNoise LevelSpeed
Argon AR12 RGB120mm9 to 29 dBA700 to 2200 RPM
Frost Mage 600 Pro, 620 Pro120mm or 140mm8.8 to 29.3 dBA800 to 2300 RPM
Hydrogon D120 ARGBTwo 120mm0 to 30.5 dBA0 to 1850 RPM
Argon V140 ARGB140mm12.8 to 30.8 dBA400 to 1,750 RPM
Hydrogon D140 ARGB140mm and 120mm12.8 to 30.8 dBA (140mm), 11.3 to 35.5 (120mm)
Frost Mage 400 ARGB, 400 Rainbow, 600 ARGB120mm or 140mm7.5 to 31 dBA
Frost Mage 620 ARGB120mm or 140mm8.1 to 32 dBA
Argon AR12-TUF120mm6.2 to 34.4 dBA300 to 2200 RPM
Argon V120120mm36.2 dBAFan rated 800 to 2,000 RPM
Krypton KR0392mm23 dBA2000 RPM
Argon AR0892mm14.1 to 27.7 dBA
Krypton KR0292mm13.6 to 34.8 dBA800 to 2800 RPM
Argon AR07, older140mm16.5 to 30.8 dBA
Krypton KR01, older80mm"33 dBA (Max.)"
Argon AR03, older16.4 to 33.5 dBA
Argon AR01 V3, older15 to 38 dBA
HE01, older140 x 38 mm18 to 41 dBA

Each figure covers one fan rather than the whole cooler; the twin-fan Hydrogon D120 prints the number for one of its two. Where a page gives one figure beside a speed range, as on the Argon V120, it is read as the fan at full speed. No Frost Mage model turned up on amazon.com on November 8, 2026. More brands are in the CPU cooler guide.

Which SilverStone low profile cooler is quietest?

On AM5 and AM4, the 40 mm NT09-AM5 at 30.9 dBA, the lowest full speed figure for a current socket. On LGA1700 and LGA1851, the 45 mm NT09-1700 at 32.5 dBA.

CoolerHeightNoise LevelSockets
NT09-AM540 mm30.9 dBA, fan rated 800 to 3400 RPMAM5, AM4
NT09-170045 mm13.6 to 32.5 dBALGA1700, LGA1851
Hydrogon H90 ARGB48 mm11.3 to 34.6 dBABoth platforms
NT07-AM522 mm18 to 34.7 dBAAM5, AM4
NT07-170022 mm18 to 34.7 dBALGA1700, LGA1851
NT07-AM236.5 mm15 to 25 dBAAMD AM2
Argon AR05, AR0636.7 mm, 58 mm20 to 28.3 dBALGA1200 and older
NT08-115XP34 mm16.5 to 28.98 dBALGA1200 and older
NT09-115X45 mm18.5 to 32.0 dBALGA1200 and older
NT07-115X, AR0423 mm21.9 to 34.7 dBALGA1200 and older
AR1147 mm19.3 to 44.5 dBALGA1200 and older

Taller server coolers also suit small desktops. The Argon AR09 and AR10 stand 66 and 79 mm; the AR09-1700 V2 lists 33.0 dBA and the AR10-1700 V2 34.0, the first versions 18.02 to 42.5 and 35.45, and the 115X versions 42.5 and 39.03 at the top.

The XE server air coolers print their figures "at Full Speed", from 38 dBA on the XE04-2066 and XE04-SP3 to 65 dBA on the XE02-AM5B and XE02-TR5B, whose fans reach 14,000 RPM. The 4U XED120S lists 44.9 dBA.

Heights are SilverStone's "w/fan" or overall dimension.

Other makers' slim coolers are in the low profile CPU cooler guide.

Liquid coolers print fan figures and no pump figure

Every liquid cooler page gives a fan figure, from 23.4 to 46 dBA at full speed. Without a pump figure there is nothing to rank them on, so they are listed and left unranked. The XE and Hailstone models use industrial fans meant for workstations.

CoolerFan Noise Level
IceGem 2809.8 to 23.4 dBA, 140mm fans at up to 1600 RPM
IceMyst 280, 42013.3 to 30.8 dBA
IceMyst 240, 360; NovaPeak 240, 360 ARGB12.1 to 33.1 dBA
VIDA 120 SLIM, 240 SLIM15.9 to 33.9 dBA
Frost Knight S360, S360 ARGB, 360 Elite, 360 Elite LCD18.4 to 34.6 dBA
NovaPeak 240, 360 (black)35.1 dBA
PF120, PF240, PF360 ARGB7.4 to 35.6 dBA
IceMyst 360 PRO11.3 to 35.5 dBA
Frost Knight 240 Elite and LCD Max versions13 to 36 dB(A)
IceGem 240P, 3607.3 to 36.6 dBA
Frost Knight S360 PRO7.49 to 38.96 dBA; the ARGB version prints 7.5 to 39
Hailstone 360, XE360PD, XE360PDD, XE360 V239.6 dBA
XE360, first version46 dBA

Coolers from other brands, with pump figures where makers give them, are in the AIO cooler guide.

Nothing is marked discontinued

No fan or cooler carries a discontinued label. The listings on November 8, 2026 still included models such as the FN121-P, FM84, Krypton KR01 and Argon AR01.

Some older pages show their age. The NT08-115X prints "21.56 ~ 62.88dBA (V1.0)" and "16.9 ~ 39.8dBA (V2.0)". Neither is ranked. The AR01 lists three versions, from 16.4 to 33.5 dBA on the first to 15 to 38 on the V3.

A few current coolers print no noise figure at all: the NT06-PRO, NT01-PRO, HE02 and the passive XE01P-4189.

Many fans sat on Amazon on November 8 with only limited stock, the AP120i, AP181 and AP184i ARGB among them.

How the quietest SilverStone fans compare

ProductNoisePrice
SilverStone SST-FQ14114.7 to 20.7 dBA at 500 to 1000 RPM; 15.1 dBA at 7V$25.99
SilverStone SST-VS140B0 to 30.8 dBA at 0 to 1,600 RPM$19.76
SilverStone SST-AP140i-ARGB14.9 to 41.3 dBA at 500 to 2000 RPM$28.99
SilverStone SST-AS140B0 to 33 dBA at 0 to 1,700 RPM$21.59
SilverStone SST-SF120B0 to 41.2 dBA at 0 to 2500 RPM$28.99
SilverStone SST-FN80B22.9 dBA at 2000 RPM$9.99
SilverStone SST-AR12-RGB9 to 29 dBA at 700 to 2200 RPM (fan)$33.95
SilverStone SST-ARV140-ARGB12.8 to 30.8 dBA at 400 to 1,750 RPM (fan)$48.06
SilverStone SST-KR0323 dBA at 2000 RPM (fan)$21.99
SilverStone SST-NT07-AM518 to 34.7 dBA at 1500 to 3600 RPM (fan)$29.99

Prices as of Nov 12. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.

Frequently asked questions

How loud are SilverStone fans in decibels?

18 to 43.5 dBA at the top of their speed ranges, for the case fans. Most pages give a span from the lowest speed up to the highest, such as "14.7 ~ 20.7dBA" on the FQ141, and some print one figure at a fixed speed. The industrial FHS fans go much higher, 45.6 to 77.7 dBA.

What is the quietest SilverStone fan?

At 140mm, the FQ141, which tops out at 20.7 dBA and 1000 RPM. At 120mm, the Air Penetrator 120i and the 15 mm FN124 each list 18 dBA, at 1350 and 1500 RPM. Full speed figures are compared within one frame size only, since a 140mm and a 120mm figure describe different fans.

Are SilverStone CPU coolers quiet?

The figure on each page is for the cooler's fan, not the cooler as a system. Towers range from 23 dBA (Krypton KR03 at 2000 RPM) to 41 dBA (HE01). Low profile models for AM5, LGA1700 and LGA1851 list 30.9 to 34.7 dBA at full speed, and the Argon server coolers 33.0 to 42.5.

Why do some SilverStone fans list 0 dBA?

Their speed range starts at 0 RPM. The Vista, Shark Force, Air Slimmer and some Air Penetrator fans can stop under PWM control, and SilverStone writes the noise range from that stopped state. On those pages, the top of the range is the number that tells you something.

The bottom line

Two numbers per fan. That is SilverStone's good habit: the bottom of the speed range and the top, so you see how quiet the fan gets when the board slows it and how loud it gets flat out.

The zero I trust less. Vista, Shark Force and Air Slimmer pages start at 0 dBA, which only means the fan has stopped.

Quiet case: the old FQ141, low pressure and all. Radiator: the Shark Force 120 on a temperature curve, exactly as SilverStone advises.

Stanley Alu, founder and editor

What we also considered

These are worth knowing about, and why they didn't make the list.

  • SilverStone Nitrogon NT09-AM5 Low Profile CPU Cooler

    40 mm tall and rated for 80W, with "30.9 dBA" for a 70mm dual ball bearing fan spinning 800 to 3400 RPM. The page ties the figure to no speed, so we read it as full speed, 3.8 dBA under the NT07-AM5.

    See it at Amazon

  • SilverStone Argon V120 CPU Cooler (ARV120B)

    A single 36.2 dBA beside an 800 to 2,000 RPM fan, the highest figure on a current SilverStone 120mm tower, though its 3.15 mmH2O beats the AR12 RGB's 2.7.

    See it at Amazon

  • SilverStone Shark Force 160 PWM Fan (SF160B)

    160mm blades on 140mm mounting holes, 0 to 38.1 dBA up to 1600 RPM and 160 CFM: far more air than any 140mm SilverStone fan, at 7.4 dBA above the Vista 140.

    See it at Amazon

  • SilverStone Nitrogon NT07-115X Low Profile CPU Cooler

    Intel twin of the flat Nitrogon, 23 mm tall, at 21.9 to 34.7 dBA and 1500 to 3600 RPM for LGA1200 and older sockets.

    See it at Amazon

  • SilverStone Argon AR10-1700 3U CPU Cooler

    A 79 mm Argon built for 3U servers and small LGA1700 or LGA1851 builds, listing 35.45 dBA for a 70mm fan that runs up to 4,000 RPM.

    See it at Amazon

  • SilverStone Air Penetrator 120i (AP120i)

    18 dBA at a fixed 1350 RPM, the lowest 25 mm 120mm figure SilverStone prints; Amazon showed only limited stock when we checked on November 8.

    Search Amazon for this model

  • SilverStone Air Penetrator AP181

    A 180mm fan with three settings: 15.9 dB(A) at 600 RPM, 24.75 at 900 and 30 at 1200. Limited stock on Amazon on November 8.

    Search Amazon for this model

  • SilverStone Air Penetrator 184i ARGB

    180mm, 0 to 34.5 dBA up to 1200 RPM and 143.21 CFM, with limited Amazon stock on November 8.

    Search Amazon for this model

How we reviewed this article

Every statement here comes from the 110 maker documents, standards and agency pages listed under Sources, quoted where the wording matters. We did not measure, inspect or repair anything ourselves. Each substantive revision is dated below. How we work

  1. Current version

    First published, written by Stanley Alu.

Sources

All 110 sources
Manufacturer pages and manuals for every product

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Quietest 120mm fan: 28 models grouped by top speed and frame

Noctua's NF-A12x25 LS-PWM lists 12.1 dB(A) at 1200 RPM and be quiet!'s Silent Wings 4 lists 18.9 at 1600 rpm, each the lowest figure in its speed band. Seven makers' 120mm sheets, sorted by top speed, frame depth and adaptor, with a radiator list built on static pressure.

The quietest PC case fans

Case fan makers publish exact dB(A) figures, but always at full speed. See the quietest 120mm and 140mm fans, and why RPM counts for more than the badge.

Quietest low profile CPU cooler: Noctua's 65 mm NH-L9x65 lists 14.8 dB(A) on its adaptor

Low profile CPU coolers from 37 to 70 mm tall, each ranked only against its maker's other models. Noctua's NH-L9x65 drops to 14.8 dB(A) on the speed capping adaptor in its box, Thermalright's AXP90 fans list 22.4 dBA, and every height is copied from the maker.